diff --git a/pico-cp/app.py b/pico-cp/app.py
index 0650c33..ea01650 100644
--- a/pico-cp/app.py
+++ b/pico-cp/app.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 import board, busio, digitalio, analogio, pwmio, displayio, vectorio, time, json, gc, os, supervisor
 supervisor.runtime.autoreload = False   # we write our own files (log + pushed programs); never self-restart
-APP_VERSION = "0.0.17"                   # firmware version (the A/B updater pushes/compares this)
+APP_VERSION = "0.0.18"                   # firmware version (the A/B updater pushes/compares this)
 try:
     import rtc                           # set from the editor's clock SysEx so the log has real timestamps
 except ImportError:
@@ -452,6 +452,7 @@ class App:
         self._dirty = False; self._overlay = None; self._ovbtns = []   # on-device editing: unsaved edits + modal
         self.continue_on = False; self._advance = False; self._grid = {}   # auto-advance + pad hit-test geometry
         self._next_pending = None; self._seam_t = 0; self._need_redraw = False   # gapless seam between tracks
+        self._heavy_redraw_at = 0                    # deferred build_grid + draw_log deadline (so B's intro isn't blocked by SPI/alloc)
         self._displayed_bpm = -1; self._clock_next = 0    # lazy BPM redraw + MIDI Clock Out tick scheduler
         self._clock_in_last_t = 0; self._clock_in_avg = 0; self._slaved = False   # MIDI Clock In: smoothed tracker + slave flag
         self.sl = 0; self.rebuild_setlists()         # built-in playlists (baked) + user playlists (programs.json)
@@ -550,7 +551,7 @@ class App:
         self.bpm, self.lanes, self.bars, self.ramp, self.trainer = parse_program(prog)
         self.master = self.lanes[0]; self._ramp_base = self.bpm; self._lastbar = -1; self._muted = False
         self._dirty = False; self._overlay = None     # fresh load -> no unsaved edits
-        self._next_pending = None; self._need_redraw = False    # discard any prepared seam (user navigated away)
+        self._next_pending = None; self._need_redraw = False; self._heavy_redraw_at = 0   # discard any prepared seam (user navigated away)
         while len(self.g_overlay): self.g_overlay.pop()   # dismiss any open modal
         self._reset_clock(); self.draw_bpm(); self.draw_status(); self.draw_train()
         self.build_grid(); self.draw_log()
@@ -1097,7 +1098,8 @@ class App:
         while len(self.g_overlay): self.g_overlay.pop()
         seam = self._seam_t
         for L in self.lanes: L['next'] = seam; L['step'] = -1   # NEXT tick fires step 0 of the new track at seam_t
-        self._need_redraw = True                                # visuals (grid + draws) catch up on the next refresh
+        self._need_redraw = True                                # cheap header bits: meters/bpm/status/train -> next refresh
+        self._heavy_redraw_at = time.monotonic() + 0.6          # heavy: build_grid + draw_log deferred ~0.6s so B's intro plays unblocked
         self._seg_start = time.monotonic()                      # reset the on-screen timer
         self.led_rest()
 
@@ -1208,6 +1210,7 @@ class App:
     def build_grid(self):
         while len(self.g_grid): self.g_grid.pop()
         self.lane_pads = []; self.lane_lit = []
+        gc.collect()                                            # 64-128 vectorio allocs in this fn want a defragmented heap
         n = min(len(self.lanes), MAXLANES)
         top = GRID_TOP; rowh = min(40, ((LOG_TOP - 10) - top) // max(1, n))
         px0 = 60; usable = WIDTH - 8 - px0 - 12; gridh = n * rowh
@@ -1282,6 +1285,7 @@ class App:
         g = self.g_log
         while len(g): g.pop()
         self.log_rows = []
+        gc.collect()                                            # several text bitmaps allocated below want a clean heap
         hdr, w, h = make_text("PRACTICE LOG - THIS TRACK", FONT_S, C_MUTE, C_BG); hdr.x = 10; hdr.y = LOG_TOP; g.append(hdr)
         rows = [(i, e) for i, e in enumerate(self.log) if e.get("name") == self.name]   # current track only
         if not rows:
@@ -1409,10 +1413,12 @@ class App:
         except OSError: committed = True
         while True:
             self.tick(); self.poll()
-            if self._need_redraw:                               # post-seam: visuals catch up AFTER the audio swap
+            if self._need_redraw:                               # post-seam fast pass: cheap header/status bits, runs immediately
                 self._need_redraw = False
-                self.draw_bpm(); self.draw_status(); self.draw_train()
-                self.build_grid(); self.draw_log(); self.draw_meters()
+                self.draw_bpm(); self.draw_status(); self.draw_train(); self.draw_meters()
+            if self._heavy_redraw_at and time.monotonic() >= self._heavy_redraw_at:
+                self._heavy_redraw_at = 0                       # post-seam slow pass: build_grid + draw_log are ~hundreds of ms,
+                self.build_grid(); self.draw_log()              # deferred so B's first few beats fire on time
             tnow = time.monotonic()
             if tnow >= self._uiNext:                            # ~4x/s: tick the stopwatch + bar counter
                 self._uiNext = tnow + 0.25; self.draw_meters(); self.draw_bpm()  # bpm follows the continuous ramp